Michael C. Bailey's Blog, page 49
October 6, 2020
Weekly Update – October 6, 2020
Slow week this week, so I’ll just remind everyone that I am running a sale on print books purchased directly from me while supplies last. You can visit the pinned post on this website for full details, but basically, if you buy print copies of any book from me directly, you’re getting a freebie — a copy of Cheap Thrills Digest if you buy one novel, and a copy of any full-length novel of your choosing if you buy two or more. And of course, they’re all signed!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: Second draft is finished and with beta readers! Tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One – Stepping Up: The omnibus is fully edited and formatted, and is now awaiting cover art.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Second draft of book five is finished!
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 29, 2020
Weekly Update – September 29, 2020
If you’ve been considering submitting to the Faire Times anthology but find yourself in need of a friendly kick in the pants to get started (or perhaps, finished), remember that Anthology Writing Fortnight (AnthoWriFo) begins on Thursday!
Think of it as National Novel Writing Month in miniature, and dedicated specifically mentoring authors who’d like to submit a story to the anthology. We’ll have daily word count check-ins, advice, and I’ll be available to answer questions.
I do want to stress that first, this is not a competition! This is a cooperative, supportive initiative, and there’s no prize for achieving any goal attached to the process. On a related note: finishing a story doesn’t mean your submission is a lock for the anthology. You’ll still have to pass muster with me and my co-curator Lyndesy, but follow our advice and you’ll definitely improve your odds.
Next, I’d like to remind everyone that I am running a sale on print books purchased directly from me while supplies last. You can visit the pinned post on this website for full details, but basically, if you buy print copies of any book from me directly, you’re getting a freebie — a copy of Cheap Thrills Digest if you buy one novel, and a copy of any full-length novel of your choosing if you buy two or more. And of course, they’re all signed!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: Second draft is finished and with beta readers! Tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One – Stepping Up: The omnibus is fully edited and formatted, and is now awaiting cover art.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five is finished!
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 22, 2020
Weekly Update – September 22, 2020
Because it was a bit of a hard week last week — namely due to long hours at work leave my wife at home alone while she recovers from foot surgery — I’m going to open on an ego-boosting note.
Fellow author Michael Kingswood sent me this email, which totally made my day:
I found your Adventures of Strongarm and Lightfoot books recently through a deal that Audible put on. Took me a while to get through the other books I was listening to, but finally this week I’ve been listening to Scratching A Lich.
And…dude. That’s awesome!
Hats off to you for penning a super fun story, brother. Loved it. Very much looking forward to the rest of them.
Well played, sir!
Much of the credit of course belongs to my narrator Heather, who made the books come to life in audio.
Next, I’d like to remind everyone that I am running a sale on print books purchased directly from me while supplies last. You can visit the pinned post on this website for full details, but basically, if you buy print copies of any book from me directly, you’re getting a freebie — a copy of Cheap Thrills Digest if you buy one novel, and a copy of any full-length novel of your choosing if you buy two or more. And of course, they’re all signed!
Finally, on another good note, submissions for Faire Times have begun trickling in, and one of them was very promising — which in turn gives me hope we’ll see a lot more strong entries come in in the coming weeks.
If you’re thinking of submitting a story but need some motivation, you can join the new Facebook group for Anthology Writing Fortnight (AnthoWriFo). Think of it as National Novel Writing Month in miniature.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: Second draft is finished and with beta readers! Tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One – Stepping Up: The omnibus is fully edited and formatted, and is now awaiting cover art!
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five is finished!
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 15, 2020
Weekly Update – September 15, 2020
[image error]Last week marked a sad moment for me, personally and professionally, when Renaissance Magazine announced that it was ceasing publication after almost 24 years.
The magazine, geared toward renaissance faire enthusiasts and European history buffs, ended due to financial difficulties so severe it told subscribers they wouldn’t be receiving refunds. It came close to folding a few years back but managed to hold on a little while longer, only to become 2020’s latest victim.
This one stung because my first professional writing credit was for Renaissance Magazine — an article about King Richard’s Faire “apprentice program,” which trained people to fill the faire’s street cast. I wrote a piece on the program, of which I was a part, and that was rolled into a related article, an interview with the program’s directors — my friends, David and Paul Stickney.
(Adding insult to injury here, David passed away earlier this year, and Paul passed last year.)
I’d write for the magazine a few more times over the years, but that first article was my “big break,” because within weeks of selling it, I landed my reporter job — and my article was one of my writing samples.
The rest, as they say, is history.
On another quick note, I’d like to remind everyone that I am running a sale on print books purchased directly from me while supplies last. You can visit the pinned post on this website for full details, but basically, if you buy print copies of any book from me directly, you’re getting a freebie — a copy of Cheap Thrills Digest if you buy one novel, and a copy of any full-length novel of your choosing if you buy two or more. And of course, they’re all signed!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: Second draft is underway! Tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One – Stepping Up: The omnibus is fully edited and formatted, and is now awaiting cover art!
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date late summer/early fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five is finished! Time to let this sit so I can focus on anthology stuff for a while. Tentatively scheduled for a late 2020 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 8, 2020
Weekly Update – September 8, 2020
In case you missed the announcement on social media, I’m holding a special sale on print copies of my books through…whenever I run out of inventory, I guess.
You can visit the pinned post on this website for full details, but basically, if you buy print copies of any book from me directly, you’re getting a freebie — a copy of Cheap Thrills Digest if you buy one novel, and a copy of any full-length novel of your choosing if you buy two or more. And of course, they’re all signed!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: Second draft is underway! Tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One – Stepping Up: The omnibus is fully edited and formatted, and is now awaiting cover art!
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date late summer/early fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five is finished! Time to let this sit so I can focus on anthology stuff for a while. Tentatively scheduled for a late 2020 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
Weekly Update – September 1, 2020
In case you missed the announcement on social media, I’m holding a special sale on print copies of my books through…whenever I run out of inventory, I guess.
You can visit the pinned post on this website for full details, but basically, if you buy print copies of any book from me directly, you’re getting a freebie — a copy of Cheap Thrills Digest if you buy one novel, and a copy of any full-length novel of your choosing if you buy two or more. And of course, they’re all signed!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: Second draft is underway! Tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One – Stepping Up: The omnibus is fully edited and formatted, and is now awaiting cover art!
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date late summer/early fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five is finished! Time to let this sit so I can focus on anthology stuff for a while. Tentatively scheduled for a late 2020 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 1, 2020
Inventory Clearance Sale!
With 2021 looking like a blank slate in terms of shows I normally attend, I am sitting on a rather significant inventory of print editions of my books. Rather than hold onto them, I’m going to clear some space in my office with a special buy one get one free sale!
Go to the Buy Now page to make your purchase. If you buy one full-length novel at regular price (plus shipping), you’ll get a free copy of Cheap Thrills Digest! If you buy two full-length novels, you’ll get a third of your choice free! When you place your order for two books, add a note specifying what you’d like for your freebie and I’ll add it to your shipment.
Of course, every book you receive will be signed by me, and remember that every copy of Well-Behaved Women that goes out will result in a $5 donation to the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network and the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center — even if one of those books is your free selection.
This offer is good while supplies last, and those supplies are limited! I’ll update my inventory here as items sell out, but right now, everything is available so act now and maybe pick up some early holiday presents!
Weekly Update – September 1, 2020
[image error]The Call for Submissions for Faire Times – A Fantasy Anthology to Benefit RESCU, is officially open!
The page has had about 200 hits since it went up, so my co-curator Lyndsey Luther and I are braced for a jam-packed inbox any day now. If you’re among the authors who plan to submit a story, we look forward to reading your work! If not, we hope that you’ll support the project when it moves on to the fundraising stage early in 2021.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: First draft complete, tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One: In the final editing and formatting phase, awaiting cover art.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date late summer/early fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five is finished! Time to let this sit so I can focus on anthology stuff for a while. Tentatively scheduled for a late 2020 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
August 25, 2020
Weekly Update – August 25, 2020
[image error]The most important thing to tell you this week is this: we have a new cat!
Ingrid joined the family over the weekend and is settling in nicely. The other fuzzies still aren’t quite sure what to make of her, but she was immediately comfortable around me and my wife, which we consider a strong start. Her previous owner fell ill and could no longer take care of Ingrid, who was then surrendered to a kill shelter in New York. Fortunately, Paws 4 Life Animal Rescue of Bolton, CT got her out. My wife chanced across Ingrid on Petfinder, and the rest is history.
On a more writerly note, I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about my fantasy anthology project. The Call for Submissions page has had more than 150 views since it went live, so even if a quarter of those visitors actually submit something, my co-curator Lyndsey Luther and I will have an embarrassment of riches to choose from.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: First draft complete, tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One: In the final editing and formatting phase, awaiting cover art.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date late summer/early fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording is underway. Tentatively set for a fall 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five is almost finished! Tentatively scheduled for a late 2020 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Writers’ Virtual Coffeehouse – Thursday, September, 7:30 PM. The next session in my ongoing free-form discussion via Zoom about writing, self-publishing, marketing, etc. We welcome all experience levels, all writing interests, and all questions about any part of the writing and publishing process.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
August 18, 2020
Weekly Update – August 18, 2020
A couple of cool things to talk about this week…
First, a couple of weeks ago I was interviewed by Franklin Kendrick for superhero-fiction.com’s “Behind the Mask” podcast, and that’s up now. Listen to it for free, if you can stand the sound of my voice for an hour (I know I can’t).
Second — and granted, this is likely of more limited interest — I’m pulling the trigger on a new project, but not as a writer this time. I am working to put together an anthology of fantasy stories to benefit the RESCU Foundation, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to those who work within the renaissance faire community. If you’d like to learn more, and maybe even submit something, click the tab at the top of the page for the full details.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording continues with narrator Jennifer McPherson. Release date TBA.
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences: First draft complete, tentatively set for a winter/spring 2021 release.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One: In the final editing and formatting phase, awaiting cover art.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Blades of Glory: Undergoing second audio quality review, release date late summer/early fall 2020.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Sworded Affairs: Audiobook recording has begun! Tentatively set for a fall 2020 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: First draft of book five in progress. Tentatively scheduled for a late 2020 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Writers’ Virtual Coffeehouse – Thursday, August 20, 7:30 PM. The next session in my ongoing free-form discussion via Zoom about writing, self-publishing, marketing, etc. We welcome all experience levels, all writing interests, and all questions about any part of the writing and publishing process.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
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